Fabian Cancellara Wins Fourth Time Trial World Champion Title

Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) is the first man to win four world time trial championships.

Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) is the first man to win four world time trial championships. Cancellara powered over the rolling, technical, 45.8-km course in Geelong, Australia to take the gold medal in 58:09. David Millar (Great Britain) took the silver at 1:02, and Tony Martin (Germany) grabbed the bronze at 1:12.

Michael Rogers (Australia), who began the day sharing the career world time trial championship record with Cancellara, did his best in front of his compatriots. Rogers rode a 1:00:34 and would end the day in fifth place. Millar, however, presented the biggest challenge to Cancellara. The Scot posted the fastest time of the day at the first checkpoint en route to a 59:11. Five riders would follow Millar.

Cancellara was the one who mattered. He trailed Millar by 0:06 at the first checkpoint but led by 0:01 at 14.7 km and by 0:11 at 22.9 km. The Swiss extended his lead to 0:24 at the third checkpoint and 0:44 at the fourth.

Late in the first lap, Martin was only 0:10 behind Millar when he suffered a front-wheel puncture. The German made up 0:20 within eight km, but the mishap likely cost him the silver medal. After the race, Martin said that his spirits were deflated when the front wheel was.

Cancellara said that today's world championship meant more to him than the previous three. "I'm really happy to have done this a fourth time," the man known professionally as Spartacus said. "It's amazing. It's maybe the hardest of my four wins because I was not sure of my condition." Cancellara had withdrawn from the Vuelta a Espana after Stage 19, saying that he was not sure that he had winning form. What a difference two weeks make!

On Sunday, Cancellara and many of those who rode this time trial will take on the men's road race. Who will prosper? Who will falter? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!